I have about one page left in my note book! I have a million note pads lying around and they have all been started, but there is something about having one substantial book that keeps you organised, if you always use the same book you know where the notes are and for some reason it doesn't get lost. Anyhow, i have just been looking on this pretty cute website, Paper Cloud they do a bunch of things, journals, note cards and cushions all with this charming naive line drawing. I think they are really charming.

Yesterday my pal Rob asked me where to go to get some towels monogrammed.  He'd bought some some plain ones so I sent him to the garment district in to this place with a million patches and monograms and a sewing machine in the window at the corner of 39th and 8th ... that's for you New Yorkers since I forget the name. For a readymade option I'm loving this site Lilypad Embroidery.  They monogram just about EVERYTHING!  And don't be dismayed by the multicolor polka dots and googoo fonts -- this is a source for style.  Like a monogrammed Fashion Cooler Tote. $16.95 in lettuce green, booyah:

Or a 100% cotton 3-towel set for $38.95:

Prices include free monogram. But I'd pick something classic like this circle. 

My pal Ashley told me she found the perfect tv cart on Overstock.com, so I thought I'd search around for some bargains. Immediately I found this Modern Adjustable Curved Barstool for $119.99:

Squint and it looks just like the LEM Piston Stool from Design Within Reach:

At almost 700 bucks it also begs the eternal question, Whose Reach?  Not Ashley's and certainly not mine.  I can deal with the pleather seat and shiny chrome base since four of those DWRs would get me a late model Dodge Stratus or a trip for two to Cabo San Lucas.

This is a little random, but i have to share it as it is so good. I was having tea with a friend of mine the other day who suggested lime with Earl Grey. (sound of major drum roll, please!) I thought that it was about as uninteresting an idea as i am sure you are right now, but i tried it, and she was totally right, squeeze a wedge of lime in the Earl Grey and it is delicious, so much more so that lemon. I am completely into it now and never want lemon again. Try it.

Rita inspired me on this one.  Allposters.com is one of my favorite websites for cheap wall adornment --  where else could you buy large-size prints of both the Lolita movie poster AND book jacket?


Except I'm not a big fan of posters in frames.  Why not buy a few of these (around $15-$30 each) and paper a whole wall, Warhol-style?  They have literally thousands to choose from so you can go with a more wholesome theme (like Marie Osmond):

The only thing i brought with me from London when i arrived in this great country was one of these LOVE posters by a company called Dandy Star. It felt like a good thing to start the decoration of my new home with, and so far it has served me well. I have been asked where to buy them quite a lot, and the answer is Dandystar.com. they are £200 each, framed excluding shipping. I LOVE mine.

A while back I did a "Make Your Own French Mat" post that people semed to enjoy.  I wish I'd known about the bonkers selection of pre-cut mats that Pearl Paint has to offer.  I lost count at 50 different colors!  In sizes up to 16x20, all less than four bucks each.

Today I saw this chair in the window of the Jensen-Lewis store on Seventh Avenue (one of those weird is-this-a-chain-or-what? New York phenomena, conveniently located next to Loehmann's):

Do you like?  It's less shiny in person.  I guess the honeycomb effect is a big trend right now -- very Norman Foster and that other red metal folding chair I can't find right now-- but does it look too Eurotrash?  The site says these are $250 each but the store is offering a bigger discount.  Call 'em up.  I see six around Crate & Barrel's old standby Big Sur table.  By the way, props to Will Meyer for painting his white (current issue, page 134) -- chic chic chic!!!

Earlier today I was on the Restoration Hardware site looking for a mattress cover (they have a really amazing one), and a table popped up that is extremely similar to another one I know from the very talented French furniture designer Philippe Hurel. The Datcha table by Hurel is about $5,000 and a beauty, and you can choose from a selection of different woods for the top and the legs at Profiles in NY who represent Hurel in the States.  If this is too much there is the Restoration Hardware option, it is part of the Turner Collection, which has some very good looking pieces in it.  Right now this table is on sale for around $2,000.  Worth checking out.

Even though I'm pretty sure domino featured this company a while back I just wanted to give continued props to the people at Plaster Craft.  These beaded, drape and pawn brackets are extraordinary:

Almost all examples are under $20!  I want to do a whole wall with different kinds of brackets holding busts and specimens alternating with a bunch of framed canvases, each with their own picture light. Like, floor to ceiling on one wall and leave all the others bare.

UPDATE:  How did I miss that it's wholesale only???  Maybe call them about retailers in your area?  Or get a tax ID number just to buy some plaster goodness!

Most of the catalogues that hit my mat take a pretty clear non stop journey to the trash, but every now and again one arrives that seems worth taking a look at. Vivaterra is one, full of eco ideas for the holiday season.  Generally the shrunken felt and bare twigs look is really not for me, but amongst the super natural they have some pretty cool things here.  I love this pussy willow wreath. There are also some very chic ceramic dishes and quartz crystal ornaments for the Christmas tree. 

On Saturday I went a took a good look around the George Smith half price sale.  A lot of the stock is upholstered in Roaul textiles, like the two seater sofa below (which was one of my favourite things there).  I don't think there is a Raoul fabric I don't like.  The prices start exceptionally high, but if you are looking to invest in a good sofa (which is a good investment to make) then go and take a look; this is a great opportunity.  However it's only worth buying if you like the fabric the piece is covered in; it will be cheaper to start from scratch if you want to recover it.  Sale is on until Saturday.

Thank God for Amanda, our office's resident whistleblower/Earth Mother, who fills me in on the world beyond decorating mags and last night's episode of I Love New York 2.  For instance did you know that there's a FLOATING ISLAND OF PLASTIC TWICE THE SIZE OF TEXAS in the middle of the Pacific?!?  I couldn't believe it.  Why isn't this on page one of every newspaper every single day?  Waaaaay more shocking than Britney's Halloween costume.  Amanda asked if there was any way I could work this into the blog ("please help save our little world" -- aww), so here's my plea to all you fine folks (and myself): please, please, please stop using plastic bags.  Grocery, shopping, whatever.  Bring your own and reuse!  And how could you not when L.L. Bean lets you customize a canvas tote in four sizes and up to 12 colors like Mallard Teal?  Because now I think of that island every time I'm in the checkout lane. 

There is definitely a lighting theme going on right now; I suppose it is because there is a big lighting theme going on in one of the projects I am working on.  It is amazing how much lighting a big house takes and how hard it is to find good things.  I have just replaced very utilitarian glass lights in the kitchen with these Cobb rise and fall ceramic lights from Marston and Langinger and the difference is astonishing.  With a couple of old Edison bulbs hanging from them the light in there is now gentle and warm instead of brash and cold.  Any light fitting that shows a naked bulb should always have an Edison bulb and not a modern one, you will be amazed at the difference it makes.

You know how the fabrics in chain stores are all sort of muddy?  And why does my favorite color, green, always have to be sage??  No wonder I got so excited browsing Pottery Barn yesterday when I saw this green and cream striped grosgrain pillow:

The photo has that warm yellow holiday tone to it but trust me it's a crisp kelly green.  Finally!  Okay, so it's just a pillow cover, but you wouldn't want their synthetic insert anyway.  35 bucks!

Space NK Apothecary was one of my favourite stores in London. It is the perfect hybrid between the sparkly whiteness of a European pharmacy and the luxury of the best beauty floor in a top department store.  They opened in the States last year and now have a fully comprehensive online business for everything beauty.  Eve Lom, By Terry face brushes, Jurlique, scented candles, Darphin, Nars - it is all there and totally irresistible. 

Part of my Halloween costume this year required a visit to the local military surplus store (it was totally G-rated lest you get any ideas).  I was reminded of all the cool bags and accoutrements, like this snazzy pixelated camouflage crew bag:

Only $17.99.  Hancock's also carries a very subtle camo fabric for $4.99 a yard, which I would paperback and apply to a G.I. Joe-obsessed kid's room:

Note: no political statements here, just interesting design!

So apparently the first rule of do-it-yourself piping is to use a special foot on your sewing machine. (Thanks, David!)  For the uninitiated a foot is the part that holds the fabric down as you sew.  No kidding, a company called Creative Feet sells this Pearls-N-Piping foot with a groove for cord and beaded applique -- it comes with adapters and an instruction booklet -- for $20.  Swiss sewing masters Elna also have a good instructional pdf on their site next to this illustration of a piping foot:

As for applications you could and should try yourself, why not sew a line of contrast piping in between a curtain panel and a gathered/pleated ruffle along the hem and leading edge (center edge that meets the other panel)?  Or what about glue gunning a continuous row of piping all along the trim on your walls, covering the tape part with wallpaper or fabric?  It gives it a finished edge and and extra layer of dimension.  I also recommend buying stock heaboards from Urban Outfitters or Ballard Designs and adding a row of piping along the back edge.  You could also buy tapeless cord and set it into the seams or over a row of nailheads.  Now get piping, people!

Just when I think I've searched through every last el cheapo grande/diamond in the rough/needle in a haystack source on the interweb, the domino market editors take me to deal school.  In the new issue I went crazy for this tassel sconce from fluff emporium Shades of Light. Clicking around on their site I found this great Kensington Shade pendant chandelier -- an impressive 43 inches long - for only $395:

Compare that to Jacques Garcia's lyre lantern for Baker:

For mucho, mucho dinero.  Even Circa Lighting's more elaborate Grosvenor Two-Light Downlight (not available until 2008) runs almost $1500 bucks:

One of the cheapies would look handsome in a library (doesn't have to be on the level of Mrs. Astor's, pages 74-75) or office. Oh! Subversive Malcolm McClaren idea to go with tartan story: protect the brass or nickel with tape and grafitti the pleated fabric shade with spray paint.